Whenever one is giving advice or counsel, it is important to put oneself in the shoe of the other party. This is what Jesus did. When God needed to execute the plan of salvation, Jesus stepped in. He did not stay back in heaven barking commands at human beings and expecting us to obey. Rather he came down from glory and dwelt with men. He ate like we did, slept like we did, and cried like we did. He was 100% human, yet he was 100% God. He became like us so that he could be in touch with our own realities.

This is why the scripture says, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15, KJV). This means that Jesus knows exactly how we feel whenever we call on him. This is because he also experienced the same challenges while he was on earth. We can be sure that God understands us now more than ever. As a matter of fact, Jesus still stands daily to make intercession for the saints. We can be sure that since he is our Advocate, our matters can be properly handled before the throne of God.

Jesus knew about our common challenges. He felt the things we felt too. When people were sorrowful, he cried. Before Lazarus died, Jesus was called and informed about the health of Lazarus. He delayed in his coming and only came into town days after the death of Lazarus. People were still weeping and consoling Mary and Martha when Jesus arrived.

When Jesus was taken to the tomb of Lazarus, he wept. It was afterward that he called Lazarus back to life. Jesus did not only come to show how powerful he was. He revealed his humanity and his affection. Jesus was empathetic. He understood the feelings of the people and responded accordingly.

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A tongue that calms is like a tree of life. But a tongue that tells produces a broken spirit.
    

Proverbs 15:4 NIRV

Many people have said that life is about ups and downs. In other words, there will be good times and bad times, the good days and bad days. The most important thing is how you handle all the seasons of life. This is one of the reasons why in the book of Ecclesiastes, The Preacher talks about times and seasons; he talks about a time to be born and a time to die. He talked about the fact that everything happens in its own time and in its own season. Every day, we experience different kinds of moods.  This could be as a result of the environment we are in, the kinds of things we listen to, the kinds of people we are currently interacting with.

Every day, we experience different kinds of moods.  This could be as a result of the environment we are in, the kinds of things we listen to, the kinds of people we are currently interacting with.

We can feel joy and happiness in one moment and in the next few minutes we can begin to feel sad, anxious, and depressed. It all depends on the kind of information we received through all our five senses.

Moods are peculiar to men and women. But usually, women tend to have more mood swings than men do. Typically, most men would like to hide their feelings or their true emotions about what they are currently going through compared to the women. Women will most likely want to talk, share, and even shed a tear when they are trying to express themselves.

Moods are peculiar to men and women. But usually, women tend to have more mood swings than men do.

There are many things that could cause your moods to swing from time to time. For instance, if you’ve not had a good sleep for a number of days, there will be a tendency for you to get easily irritated. Some of the things that cause it are the use of hard drugs or hard substances. These drugs are able to alter moods drastically. For instance, someone could be quiet, but after taking these hard substances, the person could suddenly become loud, arrogant, boastful, and even destructive because of the influence of what they are taking. Examples of these are alcohol, cocaine, codeine, or any kind of mood-altering substance.

Whenever we have mood swings, there’s always a tendency for someone to lack motivation to do what is expected of them. So, until there is a switch from the negative motive to the positive, good people will not likely do what they are supposed to do in the first place.

Moods are a normal part of our everyday life. The swings will always come from time to time, but we have to develop the skill to manage and channel the energy towards productive things. Even those who we perceive to be great men and women also have their own low moments too. Scripture has a number of examples to show us. We can see the man, Peter (one of the disciples of Jesus) who moved from one mood to another. At the point when Jesus was to be arrested, he rose up zealously trying to fight those who came to arrest his master. In fact, at a point, he cut off the ear of one of them. Jesus rebuked him and healed the soldier whose ear was cut off.

Even those who we perceive to be great men and women also have their own low moments too.

Peter, who moments ago had stood up valiantly for his master, could not stand for him when people inquired about who he was. He denied knowing his master. His courage had turned to cowardice. Realizing what had happened, he ran away crying. He felt bad for betraying his master.

Another example in the scriptures is Elijah. Elijah was a man from Tishbe who came into Israel at a time when the nation was neck-deep in idolatry. The nation was led by Ahab and his idolatrous wife, Jezebel. They led the nation to sin against God and at the right time, God sent Elijah to come into the nation to declare the counsel of God. Elijah challenged Ahab and was bent on setting the record straight on who was to be worshipped by God’s people. He staged a contest on Mount Carmel together with over four hundred prophets of Baal.

The day came, and as requested, two bulls were given to both parties to slaughter. The Prophets of Baal set their bull in order on the altar and called on their god. They kept calling, dancing around the altar, cutting their bodies just to get the attention of their god. Elijah mocked them and asked that they called on their god with a louder voice, perhaps he had gone on a long journey. They obliged and even cried the more. From morning to evening, there was no response; there was not even smoke. After exhausting themselves, Elijah called all the people to himself. He cut his bull, laid it on the altar, and called upon the name of the Lord.

Elijah mocked them and asked that they called on their god with a louder voice, perhaps he had gone on a long journey.

Soon after he had made his cry to God, fire fell from heaven, and the entire sacrifice was consumed. The water, stone, sacrifice, and everything was consumed by fire. At that point, everyone knew there was a God in heaven.

But after such a victory, what do you think a man like Elijah should be doing? Such a man should just go back home, relax, and rest, and the whole nation should fear him. But something else happened. Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, got to hear of how Elijah had slain the prophets of Baal and she resolved to deal with him. Scripture records,

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1 Kings 19:1-3, KJV)

Here was a man who just slew men and brought a great victory, but he ran for his dear life. He had moved from courage to fear. He moved from being confident in his God to being fearful of Jezebel.

A man like Elijah got scared because of what he heard. This made him very depressed to the extent that he began to ask God to terminate his life on earth. All of a sudden because of this incident, he felt that his life was not so useful after all. As a matter of fact, he asked how better his life was compared to that of those who had gone ahead of him.

 

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We can take another example of characterization from the man called Paul. Paul, who was previously named Saul, was a persecutor of the church but was saved and rescued by Jesus himself. In no time, he was preaching the very same gospel he so criticized and even jailed the people of God for. He went ahead to become one of the greatest apostles despite not being among the original twelve chosen by Jesus himself. God’s ways and thoughts are far different and higher than that of men. The perspective of God differs from the perspective of man. When men were seeing a murderer and persecuting Saul, God was seeing a Paul that will take the gospel to the gentiles –reuniting and reconciling them to God. The book of Isaiah rightly says,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 58:8-9)

So, just like a butterfly, people are always constantly evolving from who they are to who they could really be. This is why we must not give up on people that God sends our way. The characters of people could change from the very worst thinkable to the very best imaginable.

One thing that helps people build character is mentoring. Having someone to look up to in different areas of our lives, helps us to develop the right morals and values. Having these values makes us stand out from others. Role models shape and groom people to be better. One reason why a lot of people misbehave is that they do not have people who can caution them when they are going astray. They do not have those that can correct them. Never in life should anyone be without a teacher. God puts parents, spiritual leaders, and quality friends in our lives so that we can be accountable and held responsible for the things that we do. Having a positive influence in life helps one to achieve great things.

God puts parents, spiritual leaders, and quality friends in our lives so that we can be accountable and held responsible for the things that we do.

Mentors are like ladders that people can climb in order to see farther. It was Isaac Newton who said that if he could see farther, it was because he stood on the shoulders of giants. Those who mentor you will help you see a bigger and better picture. They will give you leverage and a platform to explore and reach your potential. The young Pastor, Timothy, was able to leverage on the teaching and mentorship of Paul the Apostle and this made a difference for him. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy. These were wholesome words and counsel to guide him in his leadership journey. Paul did not only teach him, but also laid his hands on him and imparted gifts into him. This is the work of a mentor in the life of a mentee. These are the things that shape the character of an individual.

Men like Joshua also could learn from Moses. Scripture helps us to see that he constantly followed Moses all through his lifetime. His closeness, faithfulness, and dedication to God under the leadership of Moses were remarkable. When God needed a leader to take over from Moses, He did not hesitate to choose Joshua.

When Jesus also came on the scene in the New Testament, he prayed all night and decided to choose for himself twelve men that will carry on the great work of the ministry after he would have completed his own assignment on earth. Jesus chose fishermen, tax collectors, etc. to be part of his team. To us, it will appear rather strange that Jesus could choose such men to be with him. He did not choose the religious men of his day; he did not choose those who considered themselves better than others. He chose those who others may not regard at all. Through his teachings and his life example, he was able to transform the lives of these mere men into phenomenal world changers.

 

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Conversations are a part of our lives as humans. It’s almost impossible to live through a day without uttering a word. According to an article by Language Log in 2013, women speak about 20,000 words every day, while the male folks speak about 7,000 words daily. Much of the words we speak are often in conversation with those around us –co-workers, friends, family member, etc. Through conversations, we are able to start and conclude business transactions, strengthen our relational bond with people, solve problems, and of course, say a prayer to God.

Conversations and actions need not be separate things.

A lot of people believe the saying that, “Talk is cheap.” And by so doing, they exalt the place of taking action – doing things. While this is valid, conversations can also be the tool that pushes people to take a desired action. Conversations and actions need not be separate things. There is a reason why a salesman will speak to a prospective customer for five minutes and afterwards, the customer will be willing to part with their money to get whatever product or service is being sold. It is all about persuasion.

Conversations can lead to a desired action if used properly. From the very beginning in the Bible, we see that God made the heaven and earth and everything it contains. When he was to make man, He had a conversation with Himself. From the book of 1 John, the scripture makes us know that there are three people who bear witness in heaven, namely; the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. God, having a conversation with Himself, moved into action to create man. Man became a living soul. Man was built with the capacity for fellowshipping with God. Throughout the scriptures, we see how this fellowship went on. Moses spoke to God face-to-face, men like Isaiah saw the glory of God. Daniel spoke with heavenly beings. All these were conversations. The books of the Bible are products of actions taken by these great men of old as they received instructions and conversed with God.

Conversations can lead to a desired action if used properly. From the very beginning in the Bible, we see that God made the heaven and earth and everything it contains.

Conversations can come in the form of requests, promises, offers, declaration of completion, declaration of satisfaction. In the scriptures, there are several examples that prove conversations for actions to be true. When Adam was created and stationed in the Garden of Eden, the instructions given expressly from God were, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat. but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:16, KJV). God was giving out an instruction to Adam here on what was expected of him in the Garden. God’s word moves things into existence. God’s word has creative power. Even if something was not previously in existence, once God says it, the very word goes out to create what it says. This was why the Prophet Isaiah wrote that, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11, KJV). This is exactly how God’s word works.

Conversations can come in the form of requests, promises, offers, declaration of completion, declaration of satisfaction. In the scriptures, there are several examples that prove conversations for actions to be true.

 

When we take a look at the book of Hebrews, there are several stories of great men and women that clearly illustrate how they took actions. These men had conversations with God and they took action as a result. The book of Hebrews opens up with how God created the worlds through the instrument of faith. Abel was referenced. Perhaps through the teaching of Abel’s parents, he came to understand the significance of the rams and the shedding of its blood. God had respect to the offering of Abel. The offering of the sacrifice was a symbol of the promise of God to man. After Adam and Eve fell in the Bible, God expressly said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between they seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15, KJV). The promise of God here was Jesus.

Abraham is referred to as the Father of Faith. His life story reflects a conversation for action. While residing in his father’s house, the Word of the Lord came to him saying,

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

He [Abraham] died despite the fact that he never physically stepped into the Promised Land. He trusted God enough to bring His promise to pass.

 

Immediately after the instruction was given, it was recorded that Abraham (or Abram as he was first called) left his own people with his wife and Lot. They traveled as God led them sojourning in tents. Abraham desired to have a better place and a better country than the ones he saw. He died despite the fact that he never physically stepped into the Promised Land. He trusted God enough to bring His promise to pass.

Looking at the life of Abraham, what really were the promises God gave to him? They can be summed up in three (3) distinct headings; namely:

1. I will make you a great nation;
2. Depart… to a land that I will show you;
3. In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

We know that God doesn’t make empty promises. He has the capacity to bring anything to pass. He speaks according to the level of his strength and capacity. When God said this to Abraham, it was only left for him to believe what was said. God is not a man that He should lie or change His words when faced with difficulty. He declares the end right from the very beginning. One scripture in the bible helps us know that God honors his word more than his name.

We know that God doesn’t make empty promises. He has the capacity to bring anything to pass.

The intention of God for Abraham was to make him a great nation. To accomplish this, God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. He was called the Father of Many Nations when he hadn’t even had the promised child. When God speaks, He does so according to the level of His own might and power, and not according to our estimation of the severity of our predicament.

When God was talking to Abraham about making him a great nation, He was referring to the nation Israel. To date, the Jews occupy key leadership positions all over the world. When you look at the men and women who are currently dominating in various spheres of human endeavor, you will find Jews being prominent. God indeed has made his promise good concerning Abraham. The nation Israel occupies a land surrounded by hostile nations who are out to delete the country from the map in the Middle East. But over the years, Israel has remained strong and fought its way into global relevance.

One thing we can see about God throughout the scripture is that He does as He pleases, and His power is unlimited.

 

One thing we can see about God throughout the scripture is that He does as He pleases, and His power is unlimited. When men, for instance, want to make a promise, they first check if they have the wherewithal to make good their word. Of course, man is not unlimited or omnipotent, only God is. So, when God makes a promise like the one He made to Abraham, it is a proof of His own divine ability and power to accomplish anything. This is why the scripture says,

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4, KJV)

This proves that God’s ability can accomplish anything for us. When God reassured Abraham that he would father a child through his own wife, Sarah, God wasn’t looking at the condition they were in. Even Abraham also had to start thinking like God. The Bible makes us understand that he also decided to take his eyes off his physical condition and his age. He also decided not to focus on the deadness of the womb of Sarah –apparently, it was practically impossible for her to conceive due to her age. Rather than focusing on the impossibilities, he chose to focus on God and kept on rejoicing all through while he waited for the promise.

Our righteousness is not in our works or self-motivated efforts; our righteousness is in Christ Jesus.

This is the kind of attitude, perspective, and disposition the believer today must also have. We cannot afford to get lost in what our eyes see, or what our ears hear, or the way and manner others behave. We must only be moved by what we believe. Abraham chose not to be moved by what he saw, but by what he believed. This very disposition of Abraham earned him the caption of being a righteous man. Righteousness comes from accepting and believing what God has said and made available to us. Our righteousness is not in our works or self-motivated efforts; our righteousness is in Christ Jesus.

The arm of flesh will certainly fail, but the sword of the spirit (the Word of God) endures forever.

The next phase of Abraham’s life was where God told him to leave his father’s house. This tells us something. For us to reach forth the great and mighty things God has ordained for us in the future, we have to leave the things, places, and people we have been used to. We cannot get to the other side if we are unwilling to leave the shores of the comfortable present. Abram (as he then was called) must have been comfortable where he was. He had a family, a considerable number of servants and resources at his disposal. Yet, he chose to believe a God that he had not seen or heard of before. This faith was counted to him for righteousness.

One thing we must come to understand about the journey of faith is that there are always battles and giants to confront.

There is one thing about God, He has a way of making a promise that only He can fulfill. In the case of Abraham, He promised that He would give them a land that He will show him. At this point, Abraham never had an idea of what awaited him in his future. Amazingly, Abraham being a man of faith followed through everything God told him.

One thing we must come to understand about the journey of faith is that there are always battles and giants to confront. At one time, Abraham mobilized his army of over 300 men to confront an enemy who seized his nephew, Lot. Rest assured that when God speaks, He makes all the provision in his capacity to bring whatever He says to pass.

 

Experience the Power of Prophecy as a gift to open your mind to receive the Mind of Christ.